In the latest post of her exclusive #NadiyaBakes blog, Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain talks about a very special episode of Loose Women, meeting her hero and her first attempts at a magic cake...
I used to think that I was the queen of multitasking. I could single handidly cook 4 curries, bake cupcakes, make puff pastry, put the laundry on and hoover the car all before elevenses - leaving me enough time for a cup of tea and a pastry before doing another quick dash around the house before the school run. The real work starts when there are 3 very hungry kids around, scouting for food and drinks, with building blocks out, dolls lined up and mountains of homework to get through. I still have to do all of the above, but I've added a few extras.
This month has been like a pick'n'mix of jobs for me; varied, colourful and fun. But as you may know when you get pick'n'mix, sit through a movie and come to a stale block of fudge, you sometimes wonder why you got that in the first place. Well, I know why I do. The fear of missing the trailers makes me get into a panicked frenzy and I just scoop whatever is closest to me! Happy to say that the pick'n'mix of jobs I have been ploughing through this month didn't have any dry stale blocks of unwanted fudge in it...
"There is something unnerving about boiling dough, but turns out it makes for a beautiful golden colour and characteristically chewy but soft pretzel. I'm down with the dough boiling revolution!"
With my book, Nadiya's Kitchen, out in less than a month, the preparation leading up to the launch has been gruelling in the most fun and exciting way that you can ever imagine. I have spent months working on it and I cannot contain my excitement! It's a solid material object of all the hard work over the last few months. I fear once I hold my book it may have to be prized out of my arms with a crow bar.
I'm baking as per usual, but I am trying my hands at a few new things and experimenting with different techniques. I have been working with pretzel and magic chocolate layered cake. There is something unnerving about boiling dough, but turns out it makes for a beautiful golden colour and characteristically chewy but soft pretzel. I'm down with the dough boiling revolution! As for making magic cakes, it's a work in progress.
"Of course, wherever I go, cake follows and I had the pleasure of making a celebration cake in the shape of a present to mark the occasion."
I was invited onto Loose Women to celebrate the shows 2,500th episode. Of course, wherever I go, cake follows and I had the pleasure of making a celebration cake in the shape of a present to mark the occasion. Being a very new panellist on the show, it was great to be invited on what was a very special episode celebrating the show for its unique way of tackling real life issues, talking about taboo subjects, celebrating women and overall, celebrating the success of the show as it grows from strength to strength. It's great to be a part of something so positive.
"I even got to meet my Can't Cook, Won't Cook hero - the man himself, Ainsley Harriot!"
It has been a month of awards and I was lucky enough to be invited to attend 2 very prestigious awards. The Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards where I had the pleasure of watching amazing people who work in the food industry get recognised for their hard work. I even got to meet my Can't Cook, Won't Cook hero - the man himself, Ainsley Harriot. I was also invited to the Baftas. Sometimes I can't believe I can even say that sentence. I had the pleasure of walking down the red carpet with Mary Berry and representing Great British Bake Off along with the production team. The show was nominated for the features category for the 5th year in a row and we came home with the gong!
